Souvenir retailers reap good profit during IEC

CEBU, Philippines - The souvenir industry once again gets another boost, as the delegates of the International Eucharistic Congress as well as visiting devotees, lifted the sales of souvenir related retail products in the last few days.

Easy to carry souvenirs such as trinkets, shirts, fashion accessories, key chains, shell collections, guitars and delicacies are the  top favorite pasalubong shopping products of the IEC participants, trade and retail executives reported yesterday.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) regional director Asteria Caberte revealed that just like last year's APEC Summit and other MICE events, Cebu-made products are always on the frontline in terms of shopping list of delegates.

Aside from the traditional tourists coming to Cebu, the increasing number of MICE events being held in Cebu helped boost the souvenir sector, as buying homecoming giveaways has always been part of everyone's "to do list" while in Cebu.

 Caberte said based on the DTI organized trade fair currently held at SM City Cebu, exhibitors are reporting brisk sales, and groups of IEC delegates and devotees are buying mostly export quality fashion accessories, and light-weight Cebu souvenir icons.

 Islands Group president Jay Aldeguer said that shirts about Cebu is moving very well, a big boost to the usual tourists-generated sales.

On the other hand, in the conventional retail side, aside from restaurants, other retail players do not feel the a significant impact on sales performance while the IEC is happening, said Philippine Retailers Association (PRA-Cebu Chapter) President Robert Go.

According to Go, delegates are mostly contained within their events' venue, and shopping for most is their least priority.

 Last year, DTI-7 started its intensive intervention program assisting the small food processing industry, especially those that made products for tourists.

While processed food is the most in-demand product usually bought by domestic and foreign tourists as homecoming treat, makers have to be assisted in ensuring proper food handling, and other issues in quality, as well as packaging.

 Caberte noted that based on the performance of the souvenir retail hub at the Mactan Cebu International Airport, operated by District 32, processed food items are the hot selling souvenir favorites.   (FREEMAN)